ARCHIE COMICS

Black Hood #1

Written by Duane Swierczynski | Drawn by Michael Gaydos

"Black Hood #1 is a slow debut for the new series, but that approach allows the creative team to really dig into the psychology of the new hero and build his world. This comic doesn't make the mistake of doing dark and gritty for the sake of being dark and gritty. Swierczynski and Gaydos craft a compelling character study and crime drama here. Whether the book will or even should evolve into a true superhero tale remains to be seen." -Jesse

8.4

BOOM! STUDIOS

Curb Stomp #1

Written by Ryan Ferrier | Drawn by Devaki Neogi

Curb Stomp is a comic that lives up to the raw brutality of its title. Playing like an all-female Technicolor vision of The Warriors, it’s a killer little comic about punk rock gang warfare. Writer Ryan Ferrier does a great job of setting up his core cast and playing out the inciting incident of the series, which sets in motion the entirety of the book’s conflict immensely well. Artist Devaki Neogi is also quite strong in his debut here, though not quite so much as Ferrier. There’s some stumbling when it comes to the book’s more action-oriented moments and some panels come across as a bit stiff. As a whole though, Curb Stomp is a wholly unique read and absolutely worth your money this week. Check it out. This is gonna be one to watch in the future. -Tres

Final Score:

8.0

IDW PUBLISHING

D4VE #1

Written by Ryan Ferrier | Drawn by Valentin Ramon

D4VE was originally released digitally back in 2013, but is now being released in print by IDW. Written by Ryan Ferrier, issue #1 follows the titular D4VE as he suffers through a midlife crisis. Oh, he’s also a robot living in a world where robots have overtaken and destroyed the human race. This world very much is and isn’t like our world in many hilarious and entertaining ways, but the best thing about this book are the characters featured in it. There are hints of the television show Workaholics to be found here mixed in with wacky sci-fi concepts and utterly mundane modern day issues that we face every day. D4VE is a sympathetic character who seemingly will be a joy to follow as he makes his way through his boot cycle. Valentin Ramon brings this lifeless world to life through his creative design work and beautifully laid out panels and pages. He manages to depict each robot with a creepy kind of life and personality all their own that adds much to Ferrier’s script. -Mike

Final Score:

8.7

Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues #2

Written by Erik Burnham | Drawn by Nacho Arranz

If we can’t have another Galaxy Quest movie, a comic is a perfectly decent substitute. Theoretically, at least. This series is struggling to capture the appeal of the original film. Plot-wise, The Journey Continues has all its ducks in a row. Erik Burnham cleverly builds from the climax of the film and explores the unexpected consequences mucking with time travel causes. However, the plot of Galaxy Quest was always secondary to the humor and the fun dynamic among these washed-up actors forced into becoming actual space heroes. That humor just isn’t strong enough here. This series is also pretty rough on the visual front. While it’s understandable that the actor likenesses weren’t included along with the Galaxy Quest license, Nacho Arranz needs to do much more to distinguish his characters. Out of costume, it’s practically impossible to distinguish most of the male characters from one another. Meanwhile, the stiff figure work and awkward facial expressions sap the book of any energy it might otherwise have. -Jesse

Final Score:

5.2

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #43

Written by Tom Waltz | Drawn by Cory Smith

It doesn’t seem possible, but apparently there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to the Ninja Turtles. The book’s Technodrome centric arc hits new levels of mutant mayhem here, writer Tom Waltz adding layer upon layer to his already crowded narrative. Said presentation makes for one heck of a fun read in the action department, Cory Smith’s pencils again fluid and dynamic, but there’s so much going on overall that the climax isn’t nearly as impacting as it should be. Waltz has shown a fine hand in going big before with his excellent City Fall arc, but the sheer gravity of the current read dwarfs any of his attempts at including personal stakes. There’s so much focus on the Mutanimals, the Foot and Krang that the Turtles themselves are pretty much afterthoughts, simply flitting from one disaster to the next. Waltz and Co. have proved more than capable of hitting one over the fence, but this story would do well in coming a bit closer to home. -Jeff

Final Score:

7.2

IMAGE COMICS

Low #6

Written by Rick Remender | Drawn by Greg Tocchini

Low’s first arc reaches its explosive conclusion, Rick Remender taking the world he’s so carefully cultivated and turning it upside down like a snow globe. The resulting finale leads to a slew of new and enticing questions, but it also fails to fully tie up (or even address) those that came before. At this point, such is the way of Low. It’s got some big ideas, an immersive world and an ever imaginative scope, but it also feels distant at times, motivations and relationships never forming as completely as one would like. There’s a lot of personal drama to this issue, with Stel, Marik and Tajo all experiencing various degrees of upheaval, but much of this progression is so swift and sudden that it doesn’t entirely register. Fortunately, that problem does not extend to Greg Tocchini’s visuals. The artist delivers some eye popping stuff this go round, his pages surreally grand in design and color. Some panels still suffer from lack of clarity, but as far as immersion goes, Tocchini remains Low’s lure. -Jeff

Final Score:

7.5

The Wicked + The Divine #8

Written by Kieron Gillen | Drawn by Jamie McKelvie

"Considering the driving force behind The Wicked + The Divine’s second arc, issue #8 initially feels a bit light. Laura’s investigation into Luci’s murder continues to move forward in fits and starts, her super sleuthing forever derailed by the changing whims of the Gods. In most hands, this would be a criticism. In this case, it’s not. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie put their Wonder Twin powers on full display, combining with colorist Matt Wilson for a wildly illustrated and uniquely nuanced chapter that’s as inventive as it is inviting." -Jeff

8.5

ONI PRESS

The Life After #7

Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov | Drawn by Gabo

Murdered animal deities, child ninjas, shadowy strangers in well-lit rooms – The Life After is back, and it’s weirder than ever. Joshua Hale Fialkov’s gift for blending the strange with the mundane continues here, issue #7 managing to be both affecting and hilarious. He does a solid job balancing the now divergent plot lines, with the interaction between Nettie and her newfound daughter Essie as the standout. Some of the external machinations feel a bit familiar (specifically the looming threat of a faceless evil), but Fialkov and artist Gabo use their world well enough to keep it investing. Speaking of Gabo - the artist too finds some great middle ground, balancing real world drama with more out there moments. His slightly cartoony line work doesn’t always register emotion to its fullest, but it does enhance some of the book’s more gruesome leanings. There’s something deeply unsettling about a giant rabbit lazily blinking away blood spatter, and it’s that deranged simplicity that makes the book so weirdly fun. -Jeff

Final Score:

7.5

VALIANT COMICS

Quantum and Woody Must Die! #2

Written by James Asmus | Drawn by Steve Lieber

"Tired of the same tired superhero shenanigans? Looking for a book with a little pep, a little juice, a little pizzazz? Want to laugh so hard that your hold on liquids becomes tenuous at best? If any of that sounds appealing, you really should be reading Quantum and Woody Must Die! James Asmus and Steve Lieber return for more outlandish exploits, their latest chock full of witty wordplay, hilarious sight gags and just the right amount of feels." -Jeff